Directors: Preview Glorious- a delightful comedy

I am super delighted to be directing Glorious! by Peter Quilter, which is the next play to be performed by Saddleworth Players at the Millgate Arts Centre. Set in 1944, this delightful comedy tells just part of the story (the funniest part) of the extremely eccentric socialite, Florence Foster Jenkins (Sue Radcliffe) , probably one of the world’s worst singers, who never hit a right note, despite her stoic belief in her vocal excellence. Outrageously, […]

Get involved with enthusiastic volunteers

The Millgate Arts Centre is staffed by enthusiastic volunteers who are all about putting on great shows and keeping this community arts hub thriving for years to come. Whether it’s plays, films, concerts or musicals our talented bunch keep putting together entertaining seasons – and having fun and cementing friendships in the process. We’re looking to recruit and train a volunteer as part of the management team who can expand the use of the theatre […]

Audition for Lizzy Darcy & Jane 10th January

Audition Notice Lizzy, Darcy and Jane by Joanna Norland 10th January 2024. 7.30pm in the Bar lounge Pride and Prejudice meets Bridgerton in this modern imagining of a world where Jane Austen creates one of her best loved novels from the people and situations that surround her. Expect simple staging sumptuous costumes and sparkling dialogue in this witty ensemble piece with interactions between factual and fictional characters. We are looking for a happy band of […]

Rumpelstiltskin arrives in Saddleworth

For the past seven years, professional theatre company The Big Tiny have been making a West End quality pantomime in our theatre in Saddleworth. In the wake of the Oldham Coliseum closing, the Saddleworth panto is perfect for families in need of a panto fix. And what a panto it is too! In the last three years, The Big Tiny have been nominated for Best Script, Best Direction and Best Pantomime at the UK Pantomime […]

Costuming Alice

by Verity Mann My last count for costumes was 72 which makes it, possibly, our most ambitious project to date and Singers, not Sinners, by Livi Michael and Carol Davies, a walk in the historic park! I could well be wrong on the count though, as once I got above 60 I gave into a little mild, incredulous panic! When you consider that each costume has multiple elements from hats and goggles to socks and shoe […]

Alice promises a golden celebration at Delph’s Millgate Arts Centre

NO-ONE can deny Carol Davies’ commitment to making sure a 50th anniversary is marked in the right way – a day-and-a-half making lobster costumes exemplified that.

Throw in controlling 23 cast members, to the point of putting fingers on lips to make sure they stay quiet – with the older ones needing telling most.

That is just a glimpse of what is going into Alice at the theatre at Delph’s Millgate Arts Centre.

Alice… a night to remember from Saddleworth Players

It’s 50 years since the Saddleworth Players moved into Millgate Arts Centre, and to mark the occasion director Carol Davies has assembled a cast of 23. Some are veterans of the very first productions at Millgate, and others are drawn from the SPY group of young actors. All of them act their socks off in this production of Alice, by Laura Wade. This is not Alice in Wonderland as you may remember it from childhood. […]

Alice – Directors notes by Carol Davies

What an interesting play for Saddleworth Players to choose to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their moving into Millgate Arts Centre. With a big cast of 23, it is an opportunity to use their range of actors from Seasoned Seniors (who had been in the first plays at Millgate) to Aspiring Apprentices and those in between. Equally it is an opportunity for the crew- set, costume, props, lighting, visuals and sound- to show their creativity. […]

Audition Notice- Murder Margaret & Me

Wednesday 6th September 730pm in the bar We’re please to announce a play read through / audition notice for our fourth show of the season Murder Margaret & Me . The show is directed by Sue Borg and is on from 13th- 20th April and you’ll need to be available for rehearsal 6-8 weeks before show week. Murder Margaret & Me by Philip Meeks Knit one, bash two. Genteel ladies involved with violent murder […]

New season means new aims as Millgate turns 50

reproduced from article by Gary Carter in Saddleworth Independent FULL ARTICLE IN SADDLEWORTH INDEPENDENT HOPES are high Delph’s Millgate Arts Centre can break more records with the 2023/24 season that has just been announced. Volunteers at the venue were left stunned when recent show Silver Lining played to 94 per cent full houses, leaving them wondering if similar may have happened before things were logged on computers. But as its 50th anniversary approaches, with special celebrations […]